Aeroplane construction.



(I. ROONEY. AEBOPLANB OONSTBUOTION. Arrmorrlqn Hmm :um 2. mo.

lf2; v985,3730

Patented Feb. 28, -1911.

J. RooNEY. ABROPL'ANE coNsTRUcTIoN. APPLICATION v:FILED JULY 2, 1910.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

.means of construction whereby (UPNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JAJs/fns iooNnY, oF cnoroN-oN-nunson, Nnw YonmAssIGNon or ONE-HALF A'.ro JOHN l BUON-EY, F YORK, N. Y"

AEROPLANE CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent Falter-leed Feb. 28, 1911.

To vallvmay concern:

' '-Be it'known that I, JAMES RooNnY,` cti zen 'of thelUnited States,.res'iding at Crotonon-Hudson, in the county of Westches-v vtergend; State of 'New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Aeroplane'Constructions, of which the fol- 1 o ing a specification.

present invention relates to certain 'new 'and useful lmprovements m the construction of aeroplanes, and pertains more particularlyto. novel means for warping and tilting the planes for the purpose of balancing the machine and causingthe same to ascend or descend as may be desired by the aviator.

The object of the inventionis the provision 'of an aeroplane embodying no vel the planes may be either warped or tilted through the medium of a single lever, thereby simplifying the construction of the aeroplane and placing the same under perfect control.

The invention further contemplates a steering and balancing constructionV for aeroplanes which is positive and/reliable in its operation, which is simple-"in its construction, and which is compara-tively light i in weighta tion, reference is" to be had to theffollowing With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds', the novel features thereof being pointed out in 'the appended claims.

, For a full understanding of the invendescription and accompanying drawings, in wh1ch: .V

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view 5. through a superposed set of planes conp structed in accordance with the invention and constituting the front of ain aeroplane.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the central portion of the said set of planes. j

Fig'. 3 is an end view of 4the`san'1e,.the middle plane being shown as warped, while the top and bottom planes are shown as having the 'middle portion: thereof tilted into proper4 position for causing a slight descent of the machine. Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sec/.tlonal view on the line 4 4 of Fig.

` Application md July 2, 1910. serial no. A570,031.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical' sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through an aerovention.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in' all the views of thev drawings by the same reference characters.

In carrying out the invention, a series of ,superposed planes are mounted upon a sultable supporting frame, a portion of the planes being designed to bewarped for balancing the machine, r-whilethe remained of the planes are designed to be tilted and moved into various angles to the line of Hight for the purpose of causing the machine to ascend or descend as may be desired.

The numerals 1 designate a series of four uprights which are connected at intermediatepoints in their lengt-h by a pair of lateral frame members 2, the said uprights and latplane embodying va modified form of the in'- eral members coperating with each other to form the frame upon which t-he superposed planes 3 are mounted. Inl the present instance three of the planes 3 are utilized, and each of the said planes 3 is formed with a'serics of spaced and parallelwires or fiexible tension members t which connect the cross pieces 5 and have a covering (3 o'f canvas or similar material applied thereto. The cross pieces 5 preferably have a |slightly curved or arched formation as indicated upon the drawing, and the said cross pieces of the various planes 3 are `secured to the uprights l. The middle plane 3 is located between the lateral frame members 2 and is designed to be warped for the purpose of balancing the machine, while.- the upper and lower planes 3 ar ,located toward the ends of the upright nieihbers 1 and are designedto ha ve the middle portions thereof swung into various angles to the lino of flight for the. purpose of Ydirecting the aeroplane up or down as may be desired. pieces-5v of the intermediate plane 3 are rigidly secured to the corresponding uprights 1 in some suitable manner as by-means of the bolts 7, while the end cross pieces 5 of the middle plane 3 are pivot..lly' corinected to the corresponding uprights l in The two middle cross I chine to rise and 4and the-Said plane warped son'iesuitable manner as by means of the pivot bolts 8.- lt will thus Ibe obviousl that by swinging the two end cross pieces 5 of the middle plane in opposite directions, the said middle plane may be warped, as indicated 1n 3, so as to cause one side of the mathe opposite side 'of the machine to be lowered as may be required for balancing the device.

The end cross -,pieces 5 of the upper'and lower planes 3 are rigidly secured to the end uprights l in-some suitable manner as by means of the bolts`9, while the intermediate cross 'pieces l5 of the said upper and lower planes are pivotally connected to the intermediate upright members 1 in some suitable manner as by means of the pivot bolts 10. iVith this construction, it will be obvious that by swinging the said intermediate cross pieces of the upper and lower planes-into various angles with the line of night, the machine can be caused to ascend or descend.

At a point below the intermediate plane a. horizontal bar.11 is journaled between the intermediate uprights 1 so as to be turned freely about a longitudinal axis and have a rocking movement. The operating lever 12 is pivotally mounted at a point toward the forward end thereof to the mid- The two extremities of the bar 11 have the cross arms 17 rigidly applied thereto, the said cross arms projectingupon opposite sides of the bar and having the extr init-ies thereof connected by means of the wires or cables 18 to the intermediate cross pieces 5 of the lower planes 3. It will also be observed that these intermediate cross pieces 5 of the lower plan'e are connected by the vertical wires or cables 19 to the intermediate cross pieces of the upper plane so that the said intermediate cross pieces of the upper and lower planes will'always move in unison. These vertical cables'19 pass loose-ly through the intermediate plane 3 so as not to interfere in any manner with dle portion of the bar 11 so that the said bar i can be rocked through the medium of the said lever. lheu'ear end of this lever 12 is designed to be grasped by the aviator who may sit upon the seat 18, and the said lever.

be moved laterally 'either tothe right or to the left about its pivotal connection with the bar 11 as a center. -The said lever 12 is connected at points upon opposite sides of the pivot center thereof with intermediate port-ions of a pair of cables or wires let, the said cables extending longitndinally et the set of planes, passing through openings in the end uprights il, and being drawn around pulleys l5 journaled in blocks 1G secured to the projecting cud portions of the lower lateral frame member 2. After passing aro'undthese pulleys 15, the extremities of the two cables let. are carried up and secured' to oppositeends of the end cross pieces 5 of the middle plane 3. When'the lever 12 is swung laterally to the right or to the left, the cables 14' are caused to move in opposite directions so that at each end of the machine one of the cables will be taken in and the other cable let out. lt will also be apparent that the cable which is taken in at one end of the machine will be let'out at 'the opposite end of the machine, so that the end cross pieces of the middle plane 3 will be swung in opposite directions so as to have a the machine and is also designed to tendency to lift one side of depress the opposite side.

the operation thereo'tf "hcn the main lever 12 is moved up and down, it willbe obvious that the rocking moveumut of the bar 11 will operate through the cross arm 17 and the cables 1S and 1t) to tilt the intermediate portions of the upper and lower planes and project the same at various angles to the line of flight.

A complete' aeroplane would preferably comprise two sets of planes connected in some suitable manner as by means of the frame members E20, and a possible modification of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 6 in which the top and bottom planes of the front and rear sets are connected with each other so as to be moved simultaneously. The two sets of planes are constructed in substantially the same manner as previously described, with the exception'that the micdle plane 3 of the rear set is rigidly secured to the nprights 1 so that it can neither be warped nor tilted. The two extremities of the horizontal bar 11 at the front of the 1nachine are provided not only with the cross arms 1T, but also with the upwardly and downwardly projecting arms 21, theextrem'ities of the said arms 21 being connected by the wires or cables 22 to corre spondiug arms 23 which project upwardly and downwardly from intermediate portions of .levers 2i which arev secured to the intermediate nprights 1 of the rear set of planes.

These levers 24 have the extremities thereof connected by the wires or cables Q5 to the in` ternuulite cross pieces 5 of the lower plane, and the said intermediate cross pieces of the lower plane are connected by the wires or cables 26 to the intermediate cross pieces 5 of the .upperplane. The wires 26 pass freely through thel intermediate plane so as not to interfere in any mannerwith the same, and cause the.. intermediate portions of the upper and lower planes to be tilted simultaneously. 'ith this construction, it will be apparent. that the upper and lower planes of both the rear set. of planes and forward set of planes are connected to each other'so as to be operated simultaneously ducing an ascent or descent of the aeroplane.

`=Particular attention may be directed 'to the fact that a single lever is employed for bal ancing the machine and for causing the machine to ascend or descend, the said lever being moved horizontally for balancing the machine, and vertically for directing the l machine up or down, It will also be noted that the peculiar constructionlof the planes particularly adapts the saine to the warping and tilting adjustments. which have been previously described.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by I.etters Patent, is j ,v

1. In an aeroplane,the combination of a frame, a plurality Ofplanesmounted upon the frame, aro'ck shaft, a lever pivotally inounted'upon the rock shaftV and forming means for turning the rock shaft, cables connected to the lever upon opposite sides of its pivot point and also connected to corners of one of the planes whereby the said. plane can be warped through the medium of the lever, and means actuated by the rock shaft for tilti'n ,portions of another of the planes. y

2. n Van aeroplane, the combination of a trame, a plurality of planes 'mounted upon the frame, a rock shaft, a lever pivoted upon tlie rock shaft and adapted to turn independently of the .rock shaft when swung in one direction and to 'turn the rock shaft when swung in another direction, cables connected-at intermediate points in their lengthA to the lever upon opposite sides of its pivot point, the extremities of the said cables being connected to the corners of one of the planes whereby -the said plane can be warped Vactuated by the rock shaft for ti through the medium of the lever 4and means lting a portion of another of the planes.'

3. In an aeroplane, the combination of a `frame, a plurality of planes mounted upon portion of the said-planes, and means actuated by the lever for warping. another of the planes.

4. In an aeroplane, the combination `of a frame, a plurality of planes mounted upon the frame, a rock' shaft, a crossarm carried b y the rock shaft, connecting means between the ends of the crossl arm and one of the planes for tilting a portion of the said plane, alever` pivotally mounted upon the rock shaft so as to turn independently thereof when swung in one direction but to turn the rock shaft when swung in another direction,

and one of the planes for warping the said plane. I i

' 5: In an aeroplane, the combina-tion of a frame formed with a series of uprights, a plurality of lplanes mounted upon the frame, a, rock shaft j ouriialed between a pair of the 'through the medium ofthe lever 24 for proi and connecting means between the said lever 65 uprights andarranged substantially parallel to the planes, cross arms at the ends of the rock shaft, connecting'means between the cross arms and one :of the planes for tilting a portion of the said plane, connecting Y means between the said plane and'. another plane whereby the second mentioned plane will be tilted simultaneously with the first mentioned plane, a lever pivot upon the rock sha-ft so as to move independently of the rock shaft when swung in one direction but turn the rock shaft when swung 1n another direction, and cables connected at intermediate points in their length to the lever on opposite sides of its pivot point, the ends of I the cables being connected to the corners of one of the planes for warping the said plane,

6. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame, a series of exible pla-nes carried by the frame, each of the said planes being formed with a number of cross bars and a portion of the planes rhaving intermediate cross bars pivotally mounted and end bars rigidly mounted While other lanes have end cross bars pivotally mounted and intermediate cross bars rigidly mounted, and means for movinfr the pivoted cross bars for warp.- ing a portion of the planes and tilting portions of the other planes.

7. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame, a plurality of iexible planes mounted upon the frame, each of the frames being formed with a series of cross bars and a portion of the planes having intermediate cross bars pivotally mounted and end cross bars rigidly mounted while other planes have end crossbars pivotally mounted and intermediate cross bars rigidly mounted, a rock shaft, a lever pivoted upon the rock shaft so as to move independently of the rock shaft when swung in one direction but turn the rock shaftwhen swung in another direction, connecting means between the rock shaft and the intermediateJ cross bars of those planes in which the intermediate cross bars are pivotallyV mounted, and connecting means between the lever and the end cross bars of those planes in which the end cross bars are pivotallyv mounted.

8. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame, three superposed planes' mounted upon the frame, the said planes bein' flexible and each of the planes being ormed with a series of cross bars, the intermediate cross bars of the upper and lower planes being pivotally mounted and the end cross bars of the said planes being rigidly mounted, while the intern'iedate cross bars of the volve the sume when swung:r in another direcmiddlo plane are rigidly mounted and the l tion, and connecting means between the leend (-ross bars oi the middle plane ure pivver and the pivotzilly mounted end cross orally mounled, u rock shaft, cross arms bars ofthe middle plane.

5 upon the rock shaftF connecting means be' In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 lween die cross arms and the intermediate in presence of two Witnesses. pivotally mounted cross bars of the upper JAMES ROONEY. :md lowei.` planes, a level` pivoted upon the Vlitnesses: rock shaft so as to turn independently there- HENRY B. FLOYD,

' 10 of when swung in one direction and to re- H. S. HILL. 

